Time was, on St. Patrick’s Day, Solas Nua company members braved the March chill to hand out free books by Irish authors. Now in its 15th year, and in the season of COVID-19, the company has moved its free books online and created an entire festival of the Irish arts, called Cyber Craic which opens today and extends through March 31.

Just in time for this extended time of sheltering in, this Irish festival celebrates Irish music, dance, performances, and, of course, books. There are free downloads of 11 books, including the life of St. Peter in pdf form. The other well-chosen selections will entice history buffs, fiction lovers, and dog lovers. All free when you download the epub app.

“Behind the Scenes” stories complete with audience feedback, livestreamed conversations with artists about creating some of the most iconic productions Solas Nua shows. Already scheduled: Broadway actor, Thomas Keegan, will discuss working on Enda Walsh’s one-man show. Solas Nua artistic director Rex Daugherty will join Laley Lippard, director of The Smuggler, to share behind the scenes stories from rehearsals of this hit production staged in bars around the area.

A tour of Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair, Solas Nua’s recent exhibition at American University

While the festival is free, Solas Nua hopes its visitors will consider a donation of $5 (or more) for every day you attend, to help support the art and artists. All proceeds will be used to put artists back to work with additional contributions to the Cyber Craic festival.

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About Lorraine Treanor

Lorraine Treanor has been editor of DC Theatre Scene since 2006. She has produced concerts and plays in her hometown of Chicago, and twice in the Capital Fringe festival. Her daughter Nina Norris is an artist working in Chicago. Life's a blast because she shares it with writer Tim Treanor.